Week 3: Aristotle

Plato’s student Aristotle continues to be one of the most influential political philosophers till this day. We will be reading introductory articles about his philosophical system, and then discuss articles detailing his understanding of the naturalness of politics and the city, of natural law in general, and political participation. The texts also will introduce you to debates about the meaning of Aristotle’s terminology and theory, and his lasting influence on scholars and politics.

Guiding Discussion Questions:

• What is politics?
• What does it mean to say that humans are political animals (zôoi politikoi)?
• How does Greek political thought differ from Roman political thought, as far as you know already?
• What key controversies can you identify in the legacy of Aristotle’s thought?